Skip to main content

The Hug

If you were at the 12:00 Easter service at Westside Christian Church you would have witnessed our worship pastor baptizing his son at the end of service. He climbed in the baptistry with all of his clothes on after the final worship song of the service. His son didn't know he was going to do the baptism, he thought the kids ministry leader was doing it. 

After he completed baptizing him, he gave his son the biggest hug while the church applauded. It was one of those where a kid jumps in the arms of the parent. It ends up being a full body hug.  

I thought it was a perfect ending to Easter. The pure love of a father for his son, raw and real, right before our eyes. The same love and joy God shared after Jesus was baptized. Matthew 2:17 says, "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'" 

God's love for us is the same. Because of Jesus' death on the cross and His defeat of death with the empty tomb, we are restored. We are one family, one body because of Jesus. And our heavenly father loves us deeply. 

I can't think of a better way to wrap up our celebration of the resurrection of our Savior. God's love is so grand that He defeats death through the death and resurrection of His son. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Right In Front of Me

There is one character in the story of the night of Jesus' arrest that sticks out. He seems insignificant to what is happening. He’s almost an interruption in the story. He is only mentioned by name in one of the four gospels, even though the description of what occurred is in all four gospels.  Malchus is his name. He works for the people who want Jesus dead. His job, with his compadres, is to seize Jesus and bring him back to the high priest. There he would be subject to questioning, a trial of sorts.  As Malchus and his posse are approaching, Peter takes action to protect Jesus. “With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Jesus immediately tells Peter and the rest of his disciples to stop with the violence.  I wonder what Malchus thought at this point. I imagine his was in shock, I would guess he was surprised. He had just been attacked and surely is bleeding ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Glow Differently

I saw this quote recently, “You glow differently when your confidence is fueled by belief in yourself instead of validation from others.” I found myself wrestling with it. I completely agree with the concept that the validation of my worth is not established by the thoughts of others. While I think a positive self image is important, I do not think that it is what really makes me “glow differently.” I hope I glow differently because of whom I believe in, rather than what I believe of myself.  The author of Titus says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) . Love and kindness entered the world in the form of a m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pray for Me

I struggle with praying for myself.  I have no problem setting aside time to read the Bible.  No problem setting aside quiet time to pray for the needs of others.  I pray for our prayer list at church, for my family, friends, family of friends, those I have the opportunity to serve, and those who simply ask for me to pray for rhem. Let me share a little secret, for many years I have had a career working in athletics.  This means I hear the national anthem more often than the normal person. I don't sing the national anthem.  Not because I am not patriotic, but because it gives me a chance for a brief moment of quiet in the storm.  I spend that time with my Father in heaven.  I pray for the health and safety of the participants.  I pray for the coaches that they may lead in a way that Jesus would be proud. I pray for the officials and their discernment. I pray often and for many others.  When it comes to me, I just seem to glance ov...
Post a Comment
Read more